Planting peg



July 6, 1937.

. C. JEFFRESS PLANTING PEG Filed Aug. 17, 1956 Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PLANTING PEG RichardC. Jeffress, -Skipwith, Va. Application August 17, 1936, VSerial No.I 96,544v

5 Claims.

This invention relates to planting pegs or dibbles and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character especially designed for planting potato slips and the like and which may be repeatedly used without danger of the head of the peg blistering or otherwise lacerating the hand of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a planting peg comprising a hollow glass body portion having a metallic driving point at one end thereof and provided at its other end with a rubber cap constituting a cushion adapted to t the palm of the hand.

A further object is to provide the detachable rubber cap with a circumferential retaining rib adapted to enter a seating groove in the body of the peg and to form said cap with a depending tapered boss which ts within a correspondingly tapered hollow core and serves to prevent accidental displacement of said cap.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and eiciency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures of the drawing,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a planting peg or dibble embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The improved planting peg or dibble forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a tapered body portion 5 preferably formed of glass an-d molded or otherwise provided with a tapered chamber or core 6 opening through the large end of the peg, as shown. The small end of the body portion V5 is provided with a metal point or tip l adapted to enter the ground when downward pressure is exerted on the large end of the peg, said tip l being formed with a vertical stud 8 having a T-shaped anchoring head 9 which is molded 0r otherwise embedded within the body pc-rtion during the manufacture thereof. The metal tip 'l at its junction with the stud 8 is formed with a flat horizontal shoulder I0 which contacts with the correspondingly at end of the body portion 5, as best shown in Fig-` ure l of the drawing.

Disposed at the upper or large end ci the body portion 5 is a cushioning member Il preferably in the form of a rubber cap which extends entirely across the large end of the peg vand is p-rovided with an inwardly projecting circumfereny Y' tial retaining rib I2 adapted to t in a correspondingly shaped seating groove I3 whereby the cap may be detachably held in position on the upper end of the planting peg. The upper surface of the cap is preferably` curved or bowed outwardly, as indicated at I4, so as to conform to the shape of the palm of the hand and th'us prevent blistering or otherwise lacerating the hand when downward pressure is exerted on the peg in the act of forming a hole in the ground for a potato slip or the like. Depending from the rubber cap or cushioning member ll and prefer.- ably formed integral therewith is a centering boss l5, the walls of which are vdownwardly tapered and adapted to engage the correspondingly tapered walls of the chamber or core 6 thereby to assist in anchoring thecap on the planting peg and prevent accidental displacement thereof when in use. When downward pressure is exerted on the curved upper surface I4 of the cushioning member or cap Il, the tapered walls of the boss I5 will expand in frictional engagement with the inner wall; of the core 6, thereby not only preventing displacement lof the cap but also increasing the cushioning action thereof.

In planting potato slips or the like, the upper portion of the peg or dibble is grasped in the hand with the curved surface of the cap resting against the palm, after which a downward pressure is exerted on the peg which causes the metal point 1 toenter the ground and form an opening therein of the desired depth to receive a potato slip. Inasmuch as the body portion 5 is made of glass there can be no rusting or corrosion of the material when the peg is exposed to the elements. If desired, however, the body portion 5 may be formed of terra cotta or other vitreous material an-d in some cases the body portion of the peg may be made solid without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be understood that the planting pegs may be made in different sizes and shapes and'any desired taper or inclination may be imparted thereto.

Having thus described the claimed as new is: y

LA planting peg comprising a tapered body portion, one end of which is provided with a driving point and its other end formed with an exterior seating groove, and a cushioning element tted to the large end of the body portion invention, what is and provided with. a retaining rib engaging the having a hollow core, a driving point carried by one end of the body portion, and a yieldable cap engaging to the other end of the body portion and provided with a depending centering boss fitting within the core.

3. A planting peg comprising a hollow longitudinally tapered body portion, one end of which is provided with a driving point and the exterior walls at the other end thereof formed with'a circumferential seating groove, a rubber cap detachably fitted to the upper end ofthe body portion and provided with a yieldable retaining rib fitting within the groove, and a centering boss integral with the cap and fitting Within the hollow portion of said body.

4. A planting peg comprising a hollow tapered body portion formed of glass, a metal driving point having an anchoring member embedded in one end of the body portion, a rubber cap detachably fitting over the other end of the body portion, and a depending tapered centering boss integral with the cap and lttingwithin the hollow portion of said body.

5. A planting peg comprising a longitudinally tapered body portion having a correspondingly tapered interior core opening through one end of said body portion, a metallic driving point fastened to the small end of the body portion, there being a circumferential groove formed in the large end of the body portion adjacent the open end thereof, a rubber cap detachably fitted to the large end of the body portion and having its upper surface outwardly curved and its side Walls deflected inwardly to form a circumferential retaining rib adapted to enter the groove, and a tapered centering boss depending from and integral with the cap and tted within and frictionally engaging the walls of the core.

RICHARD C. JEFFRESS. 

